Opto-electric mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit is provided with one or more connectors which allow an opto-electric device to be mounted on the integrated circuit directly on top of or underneath of it. Multiple opto-electric device interface regions can be defined on the integrated circuit such that an opto-electric device can be connected in a variety of directions or such that multiple opto-electric devices can be connected. In addition, an opto-electric device interface may be provided that causes the opto-electric device&#39;s leads to be directed to the corresponding integrated circuit lead in the shortest possible distance regardless of how the opto-electric device is positioned.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/049,940 filed Mar. 30, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,380,563, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the attachment of an optical coupler to a circuit board and, more specifically to the piggy back attachment of an optical coupler to another component, such as an integrated circuity (IC) mounted on a circuit board.

B. Discussion of the Related Art

Conventional data buses made from parallel copper wire technology are used pervasively in electronic circuitry intraframe and interframe interconnects. Copper wire does have its practical limits however. With high speed complex signal processing integrated circuits, the copper wire is limited to 10-20 meters for reliable error free data transmission. Moreover, as the speed of signal processing increases and integrated circuits act even faster, copper wire technology can add undesired delays. Optical technology is being increasingly used to overcome these constraints.

Fiber optic transmission lines (also referenced to as fiber optic cable) have several advantages over copper wire, including an often lower power requirement and an enhanced rate of reliable data transfer.

In a typical application, fiber optic connectors require a coupling device to optically couple the fiber optic transmission line with an opto-electric device (OED). The opto-electric device is generally electrically coupled to a driving circuit or other signal processing circuitry. This circuitry is conventionally mounted on a printed circuit board or ceramic substrate and is connected to the opto-electric device through the use of electronic pathways on the circuit board or substrate.

This general mounting system suffers from a number of problems however. First, the increased data transmission characteristics of the fiber optics cannot be taken fill advantage of because the data must first pass from a signal processor such as a microprocessor, memory, driver integrated circuit, or other integrated circuit devices, to the opto-electric device through conventional electrical wiring connections formed on the substrate. Transmission rates are thus inherently slowed by the location of the opto-electric device on the substrate. The delay associated with this type of connection varies depending on the substrate design layout. Second, the use of electrical wiring paths increases the chance that EMF and other electrical noise will be introduced into the signal. Third, the placement of the opto-electric device on the substrate, and goal of minimizing bending of the fiber optics, limits board design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these past problems by mounting an opto-electric device directly on top of, or below, an integrated circuit which is electrically connected to the opto-electric device. The opto-electric device is mounted directly to leads, or bonding pads, of the integrated circuit such that a minimum electrical path exists for transferring information between the integrated circuit and opto-electric device. Thus, the delay associated with the electrical wiring is minimized and unified for given IC/OED combinations, regardless of substrate design.

The integrated circuit is provided with connectors. These connectors can either be formed into the leads, replace a lead, or be attached to a conventional lead. The connectors can be a bonding pad or pin type receiving surface at the integrated circuit. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this can include any form of connector surface for enabling a bond between two electric conductors. The connector allows the opto-electric device to be mounted on top of the integrated circuit with respect to the substrate or below the substrate underneath the integrated circuit. In mounting the opto-electric device on the integrated circuit in a piggy back or in an opposite side of the substrate arrangement the full capabilities of the opto-electric device can be utilized while interference is reduced, transmission rates maximized and electric wiring pathway delay minimized and unified for given IC/OED packages.

In another embodiment, the opto-electric device can be either hermetically sealed or non-hermetically sealed with the integrated circuit inside a common package. The package, which can be made from a ceramic or resin, can be provided with a heat sink formed therein.

In another embodiment, two or more opto-electric devices can be mounted on an integrated circuit either in the same plane or one on top and one below the integrated circuit, or piggy backed on top of each other on the integrated circuit.

In another embodiment structural support or locating pins are molded into the integrated circuit. These structural supports or locating pins reduce the strain on the opto-electric device and assist in the mounting process.

In another embodiment, an opto-electric device interface adapter is connected to the integrated circuit such that any opto-electric device, or high transmission rate device, regardless of pin configuration can be attached thereto. The opto-electric device interface is provided with grounded and matched impedance sides that abut the integrated circuit and opto-electric device. The opto-electric device interface adapter can permit multiple opto-electric devices to be connected in a variety of positions. The opto-electric device interface adapter can also have a heat sink formed either between the opto-electric device and integrated circuit, on the opto-electric device or to the side. This permits heat buildup to be dissipated so as not to adversely effect the operations of the integrated circuit or the opto-electric device.

As the term is used herein, “OED” or “opto-electnic device” refers to a device which converts electrical current to light and/or light to electric current. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many forms of opto-electric devices exist and that other high transmission rate transmitting/receiving devices that do not use fiber optics, but which use signaling paths which exceed the speed of conventional copper bus technology, can be substituted for the opto-electric device. The term “light” refers generally to electromagnetic radiation, and preferably those wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation to which semi-conductive material is, or can be made, sensitive, whether or not such light is actually visible to the human eye. Non-limiting examples of opto-electric devices include lasers (for example double channel, planar buried heterostructure (DC-PHB), buried crescent (BC), distributed feedback (DFB), distributed bragg reflector (DBR), etc.), light emitting diodes (LEDs) (for example, surface emitting LED (SLED), edge emitting LED (ELED), super luminescent diode (SLD), etc.) or photodiodes (P intrinsic, N, referencing the layout of the semiconductor (PIN), avalanche photodiode (APD), etc.).

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the specific structure of the opto-electric device does not matter nor does the specific structure of the integrated circuit matter. Rather, the present invention is directed to a novel manner by which an opto-electric device is connected to an integrated circuit to reduce the wiring path between them.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, which is provided in connection with the several drawings attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an integrated circuit with connectors on the radial periphery;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an opto-electric device mounted on an integrated circuit;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an integrated circuit with top mounted connectors;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an integrated circuit with top mounted connectors defining an opto-electric device interface region;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an opto-electric device mounted on an integrated circuit;

FIG. 6 is a side view of two opto-electric devices mounted one on top of the other;

FIG. 7 is an opto-electric device mounted opposite to an integrated circuit on a substrate;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an integrated circuit with a structural support;

FIG. 9 is a side view of an integrated circuit with locating pins;

FIG. 10 is a front view of an integrated circuit with a structural support and a heat sink;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an integrated circuit with a structural support and a heat sink;

FIG. 12 is a side view of an opto-electric device mounted in a sealed package with the integrated circuit;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an opto-electric device mounted on an opto-electric device interface mounted on an integrated circuit;

FIG. 14 is a side view of two opto-electric devices mounted one on top of the other with the use of a opto-electric device interface;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of an opto-electric device interface with multiple opto-electric device interface regions; and

FIG. 16 is a side view of an opto-electric device mounted on an opto-electric device interface with a heat sink mounted on an integrated circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A detailed description of the invention, including a description of the preferred embodiment, is set forth below.

A. OED/IC Connection

1. Integrated Circuit

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an integrated circuit 2, which those of ordinary skill in the art will understand can include a microprocessor, memory, opto-electric driver/receiver or any other type of electronic circuit 1, is a attached to a substrate connector for electrical connection with a wiring pattern on substrate 8. Integrated circuit 2 may include, but is not limited to using a PGA, BGA, straight leg, Gullwing or J Bond terminals for connection to the substrate 8. Integrated circuit 2 is attached to the substrate through its leads 3 extending outside of its encapsulation/packaging 5. The integrated circuit leads 3 provide the electrical connection between the integrated circuit 2 and electrical wiring on substrate 8.

At least one lead 3 is provided with a connector 4 of sufficient dimensions to form a bonding surface for a lead from an opto-electric device 7. In most applications several connectors 4 will be provided, at least one for power, at least one for ground and others as needed for data transmission/reception to and from opto-electric device 7. The number and placement of connectors 4 depend on the opto-electric device 7 being used and its relative placement. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lead frame 9 associated with the integrated circuit 2 can be modified so as to have the connectors 4 on top of the packaging/encapsulation 5 or it may be modified to have the connectors on the radial periphery of the encapsulation/packaging 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 & 2. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, connectors 4 can be located both on the radial periphery and on the top of the encapsulation 5 of integrated circuit 2.

This permits the opto-electric device 7 to be positioned such that its leads 6 connect to the connectors 4 and thus leads 3 of the integrated circuit 2 with as short a path as possible. Preferably, the connector 4 will be positioned as close to the microprocessor, memory or other electronic circuit die 1 such that the leads 6 of the opto-electric device 7 can likewise be closely attached to the circuity within integrated circuit 2. The leads 3 of the integrated circuit 2 are designed in conjunction with the leads 6 of the opto-electric device 7 such that those leads which are to be connected are located directly above and below each other, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Depending on the lead frame configurations, IC/OED packages can have single or multiple mounting positions, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The connectors 4 need only be capable of providing a sufficient surface area to enable electrical contact between opto-electric device leads 6 and the integrated circuit leads 3. Electrical contact can be ensured through the use of balls, pins or any other well known type of electrical connection. Depending on the mode of manufacture, the leads 6 of opto-electric device 7 can be detachably attached to connectors 4, or permanently attached thereto though conventional electrical connection techniques such as vapor-phase soldering.

The connectors 4 provide at a minimum, power and ground connections to the opto-electric device 7, but other connections for transmission and reception of data may also be present.

2. Mounting

The present invention overcomes past opto-electric device mounting problems by removing the opto-electric device 7 from the common plane, defined by the integrated circuit 2 on the substrate 8 and placing the opto-electric device 7 in a parallel plane, either above or below the common plane. This permits the integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric electric device 7 to be connected through cross-plane connections, shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 8, that minimize, and unit, electrical wiring pathways delays, reduce EMF and electrical noise, minimize bending of the fiber optic cables 23 and increase board capacity and design options.

A. Piggy Back

The opto-electric device 7 can be mounted on the integrated circuit 2 in several different ways. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment the integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric device 7 are designed such that connectors 4 of integrated circuit 2 and leads 6 of opto-electric device 7, are located in approximately the same location when the opto-electric device 7 is placed on top of integrated circuit 2. This permits the opto-electric device 7 to be placed in a plane above that of the integrated circuit 2 and mounted to the opto-electric device 7 in a piggy back arrangement. The connections between the opto-electric device 7 and the integrated circuit 2 are made in an inter-plane direction, which can be thought of as the z-axis where the x and y axes define the common plane containing the integrated circuit 2.

When the integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric device 7 are positioned with their leads in contact with each other, any well known connection device or technique, including but not limited to soldering of one lead directly to another, can be used to hold the opto-electric device 7 to the integrated circuit 2.

The integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric device 7 do not need to be the same size. Rather, the leads of the integrated circuit 2 and opto-electric device 7 can be designed such that the leads to be connected are above and below each other when the opto-electric device 7 is placed on integrated circuit 2. As noted, the connectors 4 may be located on the radial periphery (e.g. FIGS. 1 & 2) or on top of the encapsulation/packaging 5 of integrated circuit 2 (e.g. FIGS. 3 & 4) or both on the radial periphery and on top of the encapsulation/packaging of the integrated circuit (e.g. FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment, the opto-electric device 7 can be mounted on the opposite side of the substrate 8 from integrated circuit 2. In this position the substrate 8 is designed to facilitate the passage of electrical connectors 4 through it to the opto-electric device 7. The connectors 4 in this case can be formed either completely, or partially, inside the substrate 8 (e.g. FIG. 7) or on either side of the substrate 8.

B. Piggy Back with Mounting Structures

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in another embodiment locating pins and/or structural supports 14 are molded into, or attached to the top side of the integrated circuit 2. The locating pins and/or structural support 14 assist in mounting the opto-electric device 7 on top of the integrated circuit 2 as well as assist in minimizing strain associated with this mounting position on the opto-electric device 7.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the locating pins and/or structural supports 14 can include a heat sink 15 either integrally formed therein or separately provided. The heat sink can be placed either partially or completely between the integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric device 7, or not between the integrated circuit 2 and opto-electric device 7 at all.

C. Package Mount

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment, which includes a package 12 in which the opto-electric device 7 is formed. The opto-electric device 7 is mounted either on top of or underneath the integrated circuit 2. This package can be made from any well known packaging material, including but not limited to silicon, resin or ceramics. The package can be hermetically or non-hermetically sealed.

One or more sides of the package can incorporate a metallic cover portion 13 which can also function as a heat sink.

D. Interface Adapter

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show embodiment s of the invention in which opto-electric device interface adapter 10 is used for mounting multiple opto-electric devices 7 to an integrated circuit 2 or if the integrated circuit 2 leads 3 and the opto-electric device 7 leads 6 do not provide for easy direct connection, as a lead connection adapter. By manipulating the connection of the integrated circuit 2 leads 3 and the opto-electric device 7 leads 6 in the cross-plane direction routing of the electrical connections can be minimized. The opto-electric interface adapter 10 can comprise a lead frame that routes the data transmission/reception leads in tie shortest possible distance while routing DC power and ground leads around the data transmission/reception leads.

FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the interface in which the opto-electric device interface adapter 10 is provided with multiple opto-electric device interface regions 19 a-d. These opto-electric device interface regions permit an opto-electric device 7 to be mounted in a various different positions and/or permits multiple opto-electric devices to be attached to a single integrated circuit 2.

In general, the opto-electric device interface adapter 10 is provided with a set of opto-electric device interface adapter leads 11, as shown in FIG. 14, which connect to the opto-electric device connectors 4. The opto-electric device interface adapter 10 is provided with opto-electric device interface regions which mate to the opto-electric device leads 6. This permits multiple opto-electric device interface regions to be defined, either in the same plane (e.g. FIG. 13) or one on top of the other (e.g. FIG. 14). Multiple opto-electric devices 7(a) and 7(b) can be wired in serial or parallel or independently. Opto-electric device interface regions can be controlled through the integrated circuit 2 or through a separate controller housed in the opto-electric device adapter interface 10 or separately provided on the substrate 8.

The opto-electric device interface adapter 10 is impedance matched to the integrated circuit 2 and the opto-electric device 7 and comprises an internal lead network that is designed to provide the shortest distance between the integrated circuit lead 3 and the opto-electric device lead 6. When multiple leads are being routed, it is preferable to house this network in the opto-electric device interface adapter 10 so as to avoid the need to excessively manipulate the leads 6 of the opto-electric device 7.

In addition, the opto-electric device interface adapter 10 can be used to rotate the opto-electric device 7 (e.g. FIGS. 13 and 14) such that the fiber optic cable 23 is positioned in such a manner as to minimize bending, as shown in FIG. 5. Multiple regions can be defined either on the opto-electric device adapter interface 10 or even on the integrated circuit 2, without the use of an opto-electric device adapter interface 10, so as to provide multiple opto-electric device interface regions 9. This permits an opto-electric device 7 to be connected to the interface region 9 that provides the best path for the optical fiber, or high speed communication device being used.

As shown in FIG. 16, the opto-electric device interface 10 can also incorporate a heat sink 15 to reduce any heat buildup associated with mounting of an opto-electric device 7 on top of the integrated circuit 2 or from the integrated circuit 2 itself.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment which are described above as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly the invention is not depicted to the specific embodiments as described above, but is only limited by the scope of the attached claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of mounting an opto-electric device to an integrated circuit comprising: placing an integrated circuit on a substrate in a first plane; placing an opto-electric device on said substrate in a second plane; connecting said opto-electric device to said integrated circuit through the use of cross-plane connections.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: placing said integrated circuit and said opto-electric device in a package and mounting said package to a substrate.
 3. The method as in claim 1, wherein said act of placing an opto-electric device comprises placing said opto-electric device in a plane located above said first plane.
 4. The method as in claim 3, wherein said act of placing an opto-electric device comprises placing said opto-electric device in a piggyback arrangement with said integrated circuit.
 5. The method as in claim 1, wherein said act of placing an opto-electric device comprises placing said opto-electric device on a side of said substrate opposite said integrated circuit.
 6. The method as in claim 4, wherein said act of placing an opto-electric device comprises placing said opto-electric device in a piggyback arrangement by coupling said opto-electric device with a structural support coupled to a top side of said integrated circuit.
 7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising providing a heat sink in a thermal arrangement with at least one of said integrated circuit and said opto-electric device.
 8. The method as in claim 1, wherein said act of placing said integrated circuit and said opto-electric device in a package comprises placing said integrated circuit and said opto-electric device in an hermetically sealed package.
 9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: placing an opto-electric device interface adaptor on said substrate in a second plane; and placing at least one opto-electric device on said opto-electric device interface adaptor.
 10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising: providing a heat sink in a thermal arrangement with at least one of said opto-electric device interface adaptor, said opto-electric device and said integrated circuit.
 11. A method of mounting an opto-electric device to an integrated circuit comprising: forming said opto-electric device in a package; placing said opto-electric device on top of said integrated circuit; sealing said package; and mounting said package to a substrate.
 12. A method for operating an opto-electric device, the method comprising: receiving an optical signal at an input of said opto-electric device, said opto-electric device being located in a first plane; and passing an electrical signal representative of said optical signal to an integrated circuit mounted in a second plane spaced apart from said first plane, wherein said electrical signal passes from said opto-electric device to said integrated circuit via a cross-plane conductor.
 13. A method for operating an opto-electric device, the method comprising: receiving an electrical signal at an input of said opto-electric device from an integrated circuit, said integrated circuit being located in a first plane; and passing an optical signal representative of said electrical signal to an output of said opto-electric device mounted in a second plane spaced apart from said first plane, wherein said electrical signal passes from said integrated circuit to said opto-electric device via a cross-plane conductor. 